Scapular Question.

[Credo]

       Over a year ago I bought a Brown Scapular with a Crucifix and St. Benedict medal on it. On one panel of the Scapular it has the words of Our Lord, "Conquer by this." The other panel has St. Michael slaying Satan. As you well know, there are certain things one should do to gain the privileges of Our Lady. Things such as the Little Office, rosary or some other good work. Now should one not fulfill these obligations do they have to be re-enrolled? Confess to a priest? Is it a sin to neglect the duties once enrolled?

       Also, can the Scapular be taken off for things such as showers and sleep? I ask this because Our Lady said that whoever dies wearing the Scapular would not suffer hellfire. Now what if one slips in the shower and dies without the Scapular? Or dies at night without it on? Are the promises naught without wearing it?

      I have been very wary to become enrolled and start wearing it for these very reasons.

[Reese]

I can answer some of your questions.  Sleep with it on!  I  always sleep with mine on.  I do take it off to shower though,  since mine isn't a normal scapular, and I worry it will damage in the  shower.  Otherwise I never take it off.  I think you can wear  the laminated ones in the shower, maybe someone else knows better than  I about this.  I've pondered the question if I were to slip and  fall in the shower too...looking forward to others answers on this  myself.  I do know they must be blessed by a priest. 
 

[Psyche]

 

        Now should one not fulfill these obligations do they have to be re-enrolled? Confess to a priest? Is it a sin to neglect the duties once enrolled?

       Also, can the Scapular be taken off for things such as showers and sleep? . . . Now what if one slips in the shower and dies without the Scapular? Or dies at night without it on? Are the promises naught without wearing it?

     

 

Hi there.

 

You don't have to get re-enrolled; one enrolment lasts a lifetime.  You don't have to Confess not wearing it or not saying the rosary or Office; it is not a sin to not do these things once enrolled.

 

The Scapular was originally given by Mary as a full habit, if I have the story right.  The small version is for us laypeople; but Mary would not expect nuns and monks to wear their habits in the shower, or to bed, I think; so I would say that is not necessary, but it is up to personal preference.  I was told most of this by my priest when he enrolled me when I was a child. 

 

I don't know about the technicalities of dying while in the shower or sleeping, not wearing the scapular; however I do know that the scapular is not essential to Salvation.  I.E. as long as you are in the state of grace, there is no reason to fear for your soul if you take your scapular off to sleep or shower . . . or for any other reason, even if you never wear one.

 

I myself have tried over and over again to force myself to wear the brown scapular, to no avail.  The wool, or the laminate, or the cords . . . something always drives me nuts to the point of distracting me almost constantly from the duties of my state in life, and driving me almost to the point of cussing; so I no longer attempt to wear it.  However, I am not worried because I frequent the Sacraments and I know I am in the state of grace.

 

Remember, many hundreds of years of Catholics survived, and many many hundreds of cannonized saints got to heaven, before the scapular was given to us.  So I would say, don't worry too much if you dont' shower in it, don't sleep in it, don't fulfill the conditions, or don't wear one at all.  It's not essential to salvation.

[Marisa]

Fr. Gruner recommends wearing the Brown Scapular at all times - even in the shower.  You can buy washable scapulars. I use these and they last a very long time, plus you don't have to worry about them getting smelly.